Screen for telephones or the like



SCREEN Filed Dec. s. 1926 Patented c. el, ig

@Flillt ERNEST LENNOX DUNAND, F LONDON, ENGLAND.

SCREEN FOR'TELEFHGIIES OR THE LIKE.

Application filed December 8, 1926, Serial No. 153,242, anni in Great Britain June 18, 1926.

The invention concerns a screen for use in conjunction with a telephone, or other table or desk article mounted upon or formed with a pedestal, column or equivalent. l

c The object is to provide a screen of a light, nature, capable of an attractive appearance, and movably attached to the telephone or the like, so that, whilst normally it covers or obscures the same, it may be nevertheless easily l and quickly moved aside when the article 1s to be used or exhibited.

The said device is more particularly applicable to desk telephones of the pedestal or standard type, and such application will be hereinafter referred to and illustrated.

Broadly the invention consists of a suitable screen of dimensions large enough to cover a telephone from one side, said screen being provided with means whereby it is or can he pivotally attached to the pedestal ot the telephone, and means to facilitate its movement on the desk, table `or the like. When it is desired to use the telephone, the screen is swung in a circular fashion around the te phone ith the pedestal as an anis).

In order that V.the said invention may be more readily understood a sheet of drawings is appended hereto illustrating various embodiments described later, and in said .drawings Figure l is a sectional elevation of one form ot screen attached to a pedestal telephone.

Figure 2 is a plan thereof.

Figure 3 is a view of a detail hereinafter referred to.

Figures t and 5 and diagrammatic views showing alternative forms of screens in section.

The screen may be et any desired shape, such as rectangular with or without the top `or other edges scrolled or otherwise ornamented, and in horizontal section or plan it is preferably arcuate such as approfimately semi-circular as in Figures l or 2, or il-shape, or with more than. two panels, or a plurality of facets. @r it may be hood-shaped as in Figures i and 5, or bowl-shaped (quarterspherical), or otherwise according to taste. In all the figures of the accompanying drawings the screen is indicated by the reference numeral l. i

Referring more particularly to Figures 2 and 3, a substantially semi-circular screen is formed by covering a light wire frame with paper, silk, linen, leather or other suitable material, which may be applied thereto, having any suitable designs or printed work. From a suitable part of the wire frame, such as a central vertical wire 9 as illustrated, or from one edge e. g. the bottom (not shown), there extends inwardly on the concave side, an arm or arms 2 which may be wire, twisted or not for rigidity, or a metal rod or band, and integral or not with the said frame, and which terminate in a pair of curved lingers 3 for gripping the pedestal see the detail view Figure 3.

The bottom edge of the screen l is provided with 'a pair or more of runners, castors, wheels, s.idable domed feet or other devices indicated by the numeral 5 to facilitate the screens movement over the desk or the like.

ln the hooded arrangement seen in Figure 5, the method of pivoting the screen l to the pedestal l is varied. rlhe arm or arms 2 eX- tending radially from the screen (as in previously described example) are replaced by the vertical support G terminating in the pivotal lingers 3, and a knob 7 can be used as a securing` nut. 8 indicates a counterbalancing device to facilitate easy movement of the screen. A ring lO (see Figure l) especially may be formed on or affixed to the screen in any suitable position to support the telephone flex out ofthe way of the swinging movement of the screen.

I claim: I

A screen for telephone instruments and other pedestal articles, comprising a fabric covered frame provided with a pair of horizontal parallel spacing arms of equal length disposed one above the other and both eX- tending from a single vertical central frame member-so as to be radial with respect to the pedestal, an integral lil-shaped clip formed on thel inner end of each of said arms for movably engaging the pedestal in such a manner Vas not to take the weight of the screen, and

a' horizontalvmember secured to the lower end of said centra frame member and extending in concentric relation to said pedestal, said horizontal member carrying a pair of rollers disposed one at each side of the aforesaidA vertical central frame member so that the upper parts of the rollers are concealed by the screen.

ln testimony whereof, l have signed my name to this specification at London, England, this 11th day of November, 1926.

nnNnsT Lennox DUNAND. 

